Time To Move On

Have you ever felt envy towards someone? The kind of jealousy that makes you act ridiculous? Proverbs 27:4 reads, “Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous.” I know I have done foolish things because of jealousy. It is consuming.

Our reading begins with Rachel’s envy towards her sister Leah. Rachel was obviously the one Jacob loved the most but Leah was being blessed with children. Can you imagine the constant tension in this family? Instead of seeking the Lord, Rachel looks to Jacob to rescue her from her own misery, and then she uses one the old tricks of sending in the maidservant. The competition heated up after this. I am so thankful that God uses our mistakes for the good. Aren’t you? Oh and what are mandrakes?

God did hear Rachel in her desire to have a child and she conceived. After Joseph was born to Rachel, Jacob had decided to head back to his homeland. Jacob had worked for his father-in-law for 20 years and his payment was Leah, Rachel and all the speckled and spotted or black goats and sheep. Laban didn’t want him to leave mostly because of how prosperous he had become with Jacob. So after God had increased Jacob’s flocks and herds Jacob decided to leave in secret. When he told Leah and Rachel about his plan they agreed to go. They took with them all that belonged to Jacob except Rachel stashed her father’s household gods. After three days Laban realized Jacob and his family had left and Laban went after them. God warned Laban in a dream not to harm Jacob, after-all God told Jacob to go. Laban still confronts Jacob and asks why he left in secret and why did he steal his gods. This angered Jacob to be accused of taking the gods. After Laban searched the tents and did not find them (Rachel hid them), Laban proposes a covenant of friendship between them. They erected a pillar and heap of stones to represent their convenant. “Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.” Gen. 31:55